Allen B. Clewell, age 86, of Moline, died peacefully Saturday evening, December 6, 2008 at Trinity Pathway Hospice, Bettendorf, IA.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, December 12, 2008 at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd. 6601-38th Avenue, Moline. Visitation is from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial is in National Cemetery, Rock Island Arsenal. Memorials may be made to Trinity Pathway Hospice, The American Diabetes Association or The American Cancer Society.
Allen was born July 14, 1922 in Dubuque, IA to Robert William Clewell and Adele Tonner Clewell. He had a wonderful and varied life. He served in the South Pacific in World War II under General MacArthur and General Walter Krueger. His army records shows activity: New Guinea, Leyte, Luzon, and Japan. He received The Bronze Star for meritorious achievement on December 15, 1945. He returned to the States on a troop ship from Japan and in his own words "vowed I would never leave the US again." "Since then I have spent 17 years in Mexico and Argentina owned a home outside the Unites States for 11 years and have traveled overseas in excess of 750,000 miles."
After returning from the War he was graduated from the University of Dubuque and did post graduate work at the University of Iowa. He married Jeraldine Bohn, January 3, 1948 in Dubuque. Allen began working in the Accounting Department of Deere and Company in 1947 traveling as an auditor and was then appointed Finance Manager in Monterrey, Mexico when the factory was just a cornfield.
In 1958 he was transferred to Rosario, Argentina where again the factory was just a pile of bricks. After four years his work was centered more with the banks and the family moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina
He was elected president of the American School Board having lengthy meetings with then Congressman Gerald Ford justifying the business community's controlling the schools rather than the State Department. In his written memoirs, Allen states "During my 37 years with Deere and Company, Jerrie and I have acquired a multitude of friends and memories-among them, dining with the then popular Governor Jimmy Carter when he announced his plans to run for President, meeting Neil Armstrong at a reception, cocktails with Lee Iacocca, a dinner dance with Dame Margot Fonteyn and probably most thrilling, winning the Pro Am of the World Cup golf championship in Buenos Aires in 1970." At retirement time he stated "In spite of these perks, I intend however to accept my pension checks-Thanks."
Allen served as Exalted Ruler of the Moline Elks Lodge #556, from 1954 to 1955. He was a member of Short Hills for many years starting in 1949 and also belonged to SOMA, Tri City Investment Club and the Moline American Legion Post #246.
Allen is survived by his wife, Jerrie; children, Cindy Thomason (Terry) Scottsdale, AZ , Allen Richard Clewell (Carolyn), Broken Arrow, OK and Laurie Clewell, Moline, IL; grandchildren Doug Thomason, Scottsdale, AZ and Drew Thomason, (Lana), Issaquah, WA; sister-in-law, Julie Dail (Max) of Erie, IL, sister-in-law, Lois Clewell, Des Moines, IA; cousins, Ellen Clewell, Iowa City, IA and Anne Hattwick, (William), San Lorenzo, CA; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Peg Klauer and two brothers, Robert and Jim Clewell.
Online condolences may be expressed to Allen's family by visiting his obituary at www.esterdahlmortuary.com.